An American tourist who died in the Essendon air tragedy in Melbourne posted online about his fear of flying in small planes just days earlier.

Australian pilot Max Quartermain, 63, and US passengers Glenn Garland, Greg De Haven, 70, Russell Munsch, and John Washburn all died when the Beechcraft charter plane carrying them from Melbourne to King Island, Tasmania, crashed into a discount shopping centre.

Earlier this month, Mr Garland, who had been documenting his travels in Australia and New Zealand on social media, wrote on Facebook about his fear of flying in small planes.

American tourists John Washburn, Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven died in a plane crash in Melbourne on Tuesday, along with their Australian pilot Max Quartermain

Glenn Garland (left) and John Washburn (right) were on a plane going to King Island, Tasmania

'Laurie about to board,' he wrote under a picture of a woman believed to be his wife.

'How can she be so calm when I'm worried about needing an extra pair of underwear', the post read.

In another comment, Mr Garland spoke about a trip to Milford Sound, in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island, and how he was scared of the flight there.

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'Finally made it back over to Milford Sound. Now I've been there by cruise ship, helicopter and this time by plane,' the U.S. man wrote.

'I'm not so much on those smaller planes even though we had a great pilot,' he said.

Just hours before his death Mr Garland posted about his love for the city he spent his final days in.

'Melbourne is one magnificent and amazing city', he wrote on Facebook on Monfday evening.

This comes as the fifth victim of the tragic accident was identified by Texas publication The Statesman as John Washburn.

Earlier this month Mr Garland, who had been documenting his travels on social media, wrote about his fear of flying on Facebook

Greg De Haven, 70, (left) and Russell Munsch (right) also died in the plane crash that killed five

Max Quartermain, 63, (pictured) a seasoned pilot with more than 30 years experience is believed to have been flying the aircraft at the time

Devastated family members have posted touching tributes to the two men, both from Texas, on social media

Devastated family members have posted touching tributes on social media to all the men who died.

Greg De Haven, 70, was a retired FBI agent according to The Herald Sun, and his death confirmed online by his younger sister Denelle Wicht.

'Dear friends and family, my handsome athletic big brother was killed today in a plane accident while on his 'once in a lifetime ' trip to Australia,' she wrote.

'It was a charter flight with 2 of his friends flying to another island to play golf.'

Russell Munsch, also from Texas and a founding partner of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr law firm, was named among the dead by relatives.

His cousin, Carol Holst, posted a picture of him online saying: 'Russ was killed in a plane crash in Australia today. Hug your loved ones. You never know.'

Mr Quartermain is described as a 'great guy' and is understood to have made two mayday calls before the aircraft came down crashing into a DFO shopping centre

The charter plane crashed off the runway into DFO at Essendon Airport. The intended flight path is pictured inset

Mr Garland was the former CEO of CLEAResult. The company said staff were 'heartbroken' to hear of his death.

'Glenn was an inspirational leader who co-founded our company with a unique vision for the vast potential of the energy efficiency industry. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with his family during this difficult time,' CLEAResult told Daily Mail Austrlia in a statement.

Co-Founder & Board Member Jim Stimmel said Mr Garland was 'more than a colleague'.

'He was a visionary and a close friend. I am devastated to hear of his passing and my heart and thoughts are with his family. We have all lost an incredible man. I am blessed to have known and worked closely with Glenn for many years,' he said in a statement.

A view from the tarmac at Melbourne's Essendon Airport is seen after a charter plane leaving the airport crashed on Tuesday

Max Quartermain, 63, a seasoned pilot with more than 30 years experience, who owns Corporate and Leisure Aviation with his wife Cilla, is believed to have been flying the aircraft at the time.

Mr Quartermain is described as a 'great guy' and is understood to have made two mayday calls before the aircraft came down crashing into a DFO shopping centre.

Friend Steve Atto posted his respects online 'to the most diligent pilot we all trusted and enjoyed his company'.

'Thoughts to his and the other families involved.'

Another friend called Mr Quartermain a 'truly a nice guy'.

Tullamarine Freeway was closed to traffic while investigators collected debris as evidence from the lanes

The plane suffered 'catastrophic engine failure' shortly after takeoff, according to emergency workers, and the pilot put in mayday calls before crashing into the Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) shopping centre.

King Island is a popular destination for golfers, with two of its courses ranked in the top two in Australia.

Cape Wickham Links, one of three golf courses on the island, said everyone it had been expecting on Tuesday had already turned up.